Leslie is the CEO of Sustain SC, a nonprofit organization connecting sectors across South Carolina to optimize the use of our natural resources in a way that is sustainable for both our economy and our environment. With a business development background and passion for sustainability, Leslie unites smart growth with conservation to sustain South Carolina’s economic prosperity.

Prior to joining Sustain SC, Leslie built and executed strategies to drive business growth for Fortune 500 companies, governments, non-profits, and institutions. As a strategic communications and public affairs professional, Leslie specializes in advising purpose-driven clients to uncover strategies to meet business goals while positively impacting their communities.

Leslie is a community leader. She was recently named as South Carolina's Top 50 Women to Admire and is a Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative Fellow. Leslie was appointed by Governor McMaster to the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission and serves on the City of Charleston Commission on Women. Leslie founded the non-profit Charleston Civil Rights and Civics (C3) and serves on the Charleston Chamber of Commerce's Regional Policy Committee. Leslie completed her MBA from Georgetown with a focus in Non-Market Strategy to help businesses be a force for good in the world

Dr. Maria A. Whitehead is an ornithologist, professor, and conservation professional. She has worked for almost 20 years in land and water resource protection in the Southeast and the interdisciplinary realm of recreation access, climate adaptation and community resilience. Her varied career path has included positions as a bird research scientist in Hawaii, Australia, and the Blue Ridge Mountains but eventually led back to her roots as a land conservation specialist with The Nature Conservancy in rural South Carolina.

Today, as Senior Vice President and Director of Land for the Southeast at Open Space Institute (OSI), she guides the strategic direction of land conservation to realize OSI’s mission of protecting scenic, natural, and historic landscapes and making parks and other protected land more welcoming for all.

Raised in rural Back Swamp Community, SC, Dr. Whitehead’s job aligns with her personal mission to protect the places that also uplift the people in a region her family has called home for more than two centuries. She serves as the lead on varied conservation projects and initiatives including landscape-scale conservation projects and comprehensive community engagement strategies. In eight years at OSI she has assisted in the permanent protection of more than 75,000 acres of some of the most important and imperiled Southeast landscapes all of which will become accessible to the public as new parks, wildlife areas, or preserves.

In recent years, Dr. Whitehead has worked with South Carolina State Parks, community leaders, and conservation professionals to establish three new state parks in South Carolina, including the visionary Black River State Park, the first state park in the state in over 20 years. The state park will serve as an anchor to the Black River Initiative, a 70-mile-long riverine network of 12 local, state, and private parks united by a recreational water trail along the Black River between the towns of Kingstree and Georgetown. This collaborative effort, originally envisioned by Whitehead, aims to reconnect rural Williamsburg and Georgetown County residents to the State Scenic Black River, provide critical flood mitigation, and boost local tourism

These park projects seek a new paradigm for conservation in the Southeast. In addition to habitat and cultural resource protection, the parks focus on rural economic opportunity, improving access to nature-based recreation in underserved communities, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. These state parks have also provided a new template for how the conservation community can engage with tribal communities to secure important cultural resources, build trust, and collaborate meaningfully on management and access.

Whitehead also serves on the faculty of Clemson University’s Masters of Wildlife and Fisheries Program where she teaches courses in Landscape Ecology, Vertebrate Biology, and Land Protection.

Most importantly, Whitehead is mother to three daughters, ages 21, 14, and 7 and wife to a wonderful partner who shares her passion for conservation and recreation. The Whitehead/Olson family reside in Brevard, North Carolina, where they enjoy exploring, running, biking, boating and birding on the vast public lands surrounding the small mountain community.

Whitehead received her BA in Biology from Davidson College, her MS from University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, and her PhD from Clemson University’s Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation. In addition to her current faculty position at Clemson, she has taught as an adjunct professor at Furman University, The Citadel, and the College of Charleston.

Ronnie Alan Sabb is a Williamsburg County native, having been born and reared in Greeleyville, South Carolina. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in mathematics from Voorhees College in 1980 and was later inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. He earned his law degree from the University of Florida in 1987 and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar and the United States District Court in 1988.

Attorney Sabb is the managing partner of the Sabb Law Group, L.L.C., and the firm’s offices are located in Kingstree and Lake City, South Carolina. He has earned many honors throughout his career, and is a member of several civic service, professional and community organizations, including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Williamsburg County Bar Association, American Board of Trial Lawyers, the National Bar Association. In 2018, he was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, an illustrious lawyer organization. He currently serves as a deacon at Good Hope Baptist Church in Greeleyville, South Carolina.

In November 2010 he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives for District Seat 101. In November 2014, he was elected to the South Carolina Senate being the first African American to hold the position since reconstruction. Senator Sabb was the first African American to represent the city of Lake City, South Carolina as general counsel. Senator Sabb was also the first African American represent Santee Electric Cooperative as general counsel. Senator Sabb serves his district with distinction.

Senator Sabb is married to Dr. Jennifer Gardner-Sabb, and they love their two children Whitney Sabb and Lindsay Gardner and two grandchildren Jordan Alan Sabb and Nyema Veretta-Sabb.

Senator Sabb lives by the words of Albert Eistein, “Only a life lived for others is a life worth living.”

Mayor Frank McClary, a retired United States Army Colonel, is a native of Andrews, South Carolina. He is a 1986 graduate of Benedict College where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and distinguished military honors from the Benedict Army ROTC program.

Upon graduation from Benedict College, Mayor McClary led a distinguished military career in the United States Army and retired after 29 years of honorable service to our country. His illustrious military career consisted of multiple assignments to foreign countries (Kosovo, Korea, Kuwait, Iraq, and England) and throughout the United States, to include two tours in the Pentagon, Washington, DC. He planned, served, and led combat operations with more than 20 foreign countries throughout his career. His most memorable moments in the military are training and transitioning civilians to become career soldiers, leading soldiers in combat, but most important, returning soldiers home to their love ones.

Mayor McClary’s military education includes the Infantry Officer’s Basic and Advance Courses, Command and General Staff College, and Army’s Senior Service College where he earned a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with Valor in combat, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3rd award), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4th award), Joint Service Accommodation Medal, Army Accommodation Medal (4th award), the Army Achievement Medal (4th Award). The Combat Infantryman’s Badge (2nd award), Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Parachutist Badge, Department of Defense Staff Badge, and the Department of the Army Staff Badge.

Mayor McClary officially retired from the Army on August 1, 2015 and elected Mayor of Andrews, SC on November 3, 2015. His commitment to serve others extends from Andrews, SC his birthplace, to foreign land and back to Andrews, SC. He is currently serving his third term; this is evident of his commitment to improve the quality of life for the citizens and patrons of Andrews. He dedicates his time to mentoring youths and serves on the school improvement councils for Andrews Elementary and Andrews High Schools. Subsequently he was awarded the Andrews High Volunteer of the Year for 2023. He serves on the Board of Directors for Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments and former board Member for South Carolina Community Development Association, Executive Board Member for South Carolina Municipal Association, and serves on S.C. Governor’s SC 250 Commission for Revolutionary War Anniversary. Mayor McClary was inducted into Benedict College Athletic Hall of Fame (Baseball) class of 2022 and is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

He resides in Andrews, South Carolina, where they continue a life of service to his community.

For 22 years, Joy has worked for the South Carolina State Park Service.  She began her career in 2002 as a Park Interpreter and quickly moved into the Park Manager position at Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site in Beech Island, South Carolina. 

Before becoming Director of State Parks earlier this year, she was one of five Regional Chiefs across the state that managed projects, budgets, and people for multiple parks in her region. 

She has a B.S. in Anthropology from Virginia’s James Madison University and M.S. in Public History from NC State University.  Joy grew up at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia and is a life-long hiker, tent camper, bug catcher, nature admirer. In her free time, Joy and her husband, Joel, enjoy all the outdoors has to offer with their four beautiful children:  Lily, Reid, Wade, and Eden. 

Kelvin Washington currently serves as County Supervisor of Williamsburg County, South Carolina, having begun his first term in 2023 following his election in 2022. His public service career spans over three decades in law enforcement and local government, demonstrating a consistent commitment to the citizens of South Carolina.

Mr. Washington began his law enforcement career in 1990 with the City of Florence Police Department, where he served as a patrolman, narcotics agent, and investigator. In 1993, he joined the Williamsburg County Sheriff’s Office as Chief Investigator and Chief Deputy. In 1998, he was appointed Interim Sheriff of Williamsburg County, and in January 1999 he was elected Sheriff, making history as the youngest African American elected Sheriff in the state of South Carolina. He was re-elected in 2000, 2004, and 2008.

In 2010, Mr. Washington was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as United States Marshal for the District of South Carolina, a position he held until 2018. Following the conclusion of his federal service, he was appointed Chief of Police for the City of Darlington in March 2018, serving in that capacity until his election as County Supervisor.

A native of Hemingway, South Carolina, Supervisor Washington is a graduate of Hemingway High School. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from American Intercontinental University and a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Troy University. He has also completed advanced training through the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, the FBI-sponsored Carolina Command College, the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development School, the University of Arkansas Rural Executive Management Institute, and the National Sheriff’s Institute.

Supervisor Washington is deeply committed to community service. He is an active member of Bethlehem African Methodist Episcopal Church in Hemingway, where he serves as a Licentiate Minister and Sunday School Superintendent. He also serves as Pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in the Plantersville Community.

His professional affiliations include membership in the Palmetto State Law Enforcement Officers’ Association, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association (where he is a past president), and the South Carolina Police Chiefs’ Association, for which he currently serves as President. He has served as a board member of the Williamsburg County Boys and Girls Club and Williamsburg County Vital Aging. He has also shared his expertise as a part-time professor in the Criminal Justice Departments of Horry-Georgetown Technical College and Charleston Southern University.

Supervisor Washington is married to the former Patricia McEachin of East Orange, New Jersey. They have three children--Courtney, and twins Kelsey and Kelvin Jr--and one granddaughter, Charity.

Olivia has 20 years of experience in the water industry in South Carolina. A native of Spartanburg, Olivia graduated from Clemson University in 2003 with a BS in Chemical Engineering, followed by an MS in Environmental Engineering.

Olivia works for Hazen and Sawyer where she focuses on developing sustainable and impactful strategies for utility leaders and oversees quality, strategy, and growth initiatives for the company across the state. Olivia has worked on a variety of projects in areas such as biosolids, conveyance, drinking water, and wastewater for numerous utilities in South Carolina.

Outside of her consulting work, Olivia is actively involved in Town of Mt Pleasant,  the South Carolina American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Association of South Carolina, where she served as President from 2021 to 2022. She is on Clemson's External Advisory Board for the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Science if you would like to add.

Olivia lives in Mt Pleasant with her husband, Dan, and their two children, Christian and Emily. She enjoys playing golf and looks forward to lowering her handicap as her kids grow older.

Myra Reece serves as Director of the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES), overseeing bureaus of Air Quality, Coastal Management, Land and Waste Management, Regional and Laboratory Services, and Water. Myra works collaboratively with state and federal agencies, local governments, businesses and communities to ensure protection of South Carolina’s natural resources while balancing the state’s economic and environmental interests.

Myra served in leadership roles with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for more than 30 years. She was Regional Office Director and Chief of the Bureau of Air Quality prior to becoming DHEC’s Director of Environmental Affairs.

She currently serves as the Chair of WaterSC, as SCDES is the lead coordinating agency for that statewide water planning initiative. In the summer of 2022, Myra was named president of the Environmental Council of States (ECOS), the national non-profit, non-partisan association of state and territorial environmental agency leaders. ECOS plays a critical role in facilitating a quality relationship among federal and state agencies across the country. Myra previously served in leadership roles with ECOS as Planning Committee Chair, Secretary-Treasurer, and Vice President. As “past-president” of ECOS, she continues to be a part of important national conversations about successes and challenges of protecting human health and the environment.

Myra received a bachelor's degree in microbiology from Clemson University and a master's degree in public health from the University of South Carolina. She is also a graduate of the Management Academy for Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a graduate of the Southern Center of Excellence in Environmental Health at Emory University and has obtained professional certification as a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager.

Rebecca West is the Chief Executive Officer of Renewable Water Resources (ReWa), located in Greenville SC and has served in the water profession for over 38 years. Previously, she served as the Director of Program Management for AECOM, Greenville, SC, Chief Operating Officer of Greenville Water, Chief Operating Officer of Spartanburg Water, Chief Operating Officer for ReWa and the President of RFW Consulting Services, LLC.

Rebecca is a graduate of Wofford College and served as the President of the Water Environment Federation from 2008-2009, which is an international professional water organization of made up of over 35,000 individual members and 75 affiliated member associations representing water professionals around the world. In addition, Rebecca participated in a People to People Delegation of Water Professionals to China in 2000 and led a Delegation of Water Professionals to South Africa in 2009. Rebecca currently serves on the board for Cleanwater1, which is a water technology company that serves the drinking and wastewater industry across the United States.

Rebecca is a WEF Fellow, a graduate of Leadership SC and served on USEPA's Climate Ready Utility Task Force which worked to define the best management practices for water utilities in the US to utilize to prepare for the impacts of climate change. In 2015, Rebecca participated in a special task force convened by The Johnson Foundation that focused on Optimizing the Structure and Scale of Urban Water Infrastructure. The resulting report of the task force was incorporated in the newly released report from The Johnson Foundation entitled "Charting New Waters - A Call to Action to Address U.S. Freshwater Challenges".

For nearly 20 years, James Dozier has been at the nexus of federal and state advocacy, political, and grassroots campaigns aimed at building center-right support for the leading issues of the day.

Throughout his career, James has worked to bridge partisan divides on a range of issues and brings a background in Republican politics to his work at Centerline. James has served as a thought leader and advisor for nonprofit executives, philanthropists, and elected officials working towards securing consensus-driven policy wins.

James earned his bachelor’s degree from American University with an academic concentration in political science and international relations.